Your Song Saved My Life

Last updated
"Your Song Saved My Life"
Your Song Saved My Life cover art.jpeg
Single by U2
from the album Sing 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Released3 November 2021
Length3:30
Label Island
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s) Bono
Producer(s)
U2 singles chronology
"Ahimsa"
(2019)
"Your Song Saved My Life"
(2021)
"Atomic City"
(2023)

"Your Song Saved My Life" is a song by the Irish rock band U2. It was released as a single on 3 November 2021 and was written for the animated musical comedy movie Sing 2 , in which lead vocalist Bono appears as a voice actor. [1] The band's first original track since 2019, [2] it was described by Bono as autobiographical: "There's a part of me that would die without that form of expression, because somebody said as a performer, insecurity is your best security. Any great performer is lacking something." [1] A prominent inspiration for the track was the list of "60 Songs That Saved My Life" compiled by Bono at the time of his 60th birthday. [3]

Contents

Reception

In a review of the song entitled "U2's 'Your Song Saved My Life' is Possibly the Worst Song of the Year", Wren Graves of Consequence called the song a "treacly mess" whose melody "makes AM adult contemporary sound like a nonstop thrill ride." [4] Conversely, Ed Power of The Irish Times stated the song "ticks many classic-U2 boxes by being epic and very, very sincere." [5]

The track was shortlisted for Best Original Song at the 94th Academy Awards. [6]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Your Song Saved My Life"
Chart (2021)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) [7] 41
Netherlands (Nationale Airplay Top 50) [8] 33
US Adult Alternative Airplay ( Billboard) [9] 34

Related Research Articles

<i>Achtung Baby</i> 1991 studio album by U2

Achtung Baby is the seventh studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, and was released on 18 November 1991 on Island Records. After criticism of their 1988 release Rattle and Hum, U2 shifted their direction to incorporate influences from alternative rock, industrial music, and electronic dance music into their sound. Thematically, Achtung Baby is darker, more introspective, and at times more flippant than their previous work. The album and the subsequent multimedia-intensive Zoo TV Tour were central to the group's 1990s reinvention, by which they abandoned their earnest public image for a more lighthearted and self-deprecating one.

<i>How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb</i> 2004 studio album by U2

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is the eleventh studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was released on 22 November 2004 in the United Kingdom by Island Records and a day later in the United States by Interscope Records. Much like their previous album All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000), the record exhibits a more mainstream rock sound after the band experimented with alternative rock and dance music in the 1990s. It was produced by Steve Lillywhite, with additional production from Chris Thomas, Jacknife Lee, Nellee Hooper, Flood, Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno, and Carl Glanville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of</span> 2001 single by U2

"Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the second track on their tenth studio album, All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000), and was released as the album's second single on 29 January 2001. The band's lead vocalist Bono has said the song was inspired by a fictional conversation with his friend Michael Hutchence about suicide. The song peaked at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in Canada, their native Ireland and Italy, while reaching the top 10 in Australia, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom. In 2002, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U2 discography</span>

The discography of the Irish rock band U2 consists of 15 studio albums, one live album, three compilation albums, 84 singles, and nine extended plays (EPs). The band formed at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in 1976 as teenagers. In 1979, the group issued their first release, the EP U2-3, which sold well in Ireland. The following year, the group signed to Island Records and released their debut album, Boy. It reached number 52 in the UK and number 63 in the US. They followed it up with the release of October (1981) and War (1983). War was a commercial success, becoming the band's first number-one album in the UK while reaching number 12 in the US. The album yielded the singles "Two Hearts Beat As One", "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day", the latter two have since become among the band's most popular songs. On the subsequent War Tour, the group recorded the live album Under a Blood Red Sky and concert film U2 Live at Red Rocks, both of which sold well and helped establish them globally as a live act.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One (U2 song)</span> 1992 single by U2

"One" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track from their seventh album, Achtung Baby (1991), and it was released as the record's third single in February 1992. During the album's recording sessions at Hansa Studios in Berlin, conflict arose between the band members over the direction of U2's sound and the quality of their material. Tensions almost prompted the band to break up until they achieved a breakthrough with the improvisation of "One"; the song was written after the band members were inspired by a chord progression that guitarist the Edge was playing in the studio. The lyrics, written by lead singer Bono, were inspired by the band members' fractured relationships and the German reunification. Although the lyrics ostensibly describe "disunity", they have been interpreted in other ways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In God's Country</span> 1987 single by U2

"In God's Country" is a song by the rock band U2. It is the seventh track from their fifth studio album The Joshua Tree and was released as the album's fourth single in November 1987 in North America only.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beautiful Day</span> 2000 single by U2

"Beautiful Day" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the first track on their tenth studio album, All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000), and was released as the album's lead single on 9 October 2000. The song was a commercial success, helping launch the album to multi-platinum status, and is one of U2's biggest hits to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own</span> 2005 single by U2

"Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track on their eleventh studio album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004), and was released as the album's second single worldwide except in North America on 7 February 2005. Originally titled "Tough", the song is lyrically about the relationship between the band's lead vocalist Bono and his father Bob Hewson, who died of cancer in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For</span> 1987 single by U2

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the second track from their 1987 album The Joshua Tree and was released as the album's second single in May 1987. The song was a hit, becoming the band's second consecutive number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 while peaking at number six on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk On (U2 song)</span> 2001 single by U2

"Walk On" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the fourth track on their tenth studio album, All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000). The song was first released in Canada on 20 February 2001, then was given a UK release in November of the same year; it was the album's second single in Canada and the fourth internationally. The song was written about Burmese academic Aung San Suu Kyi, who was the chairperson of the National League for Democracy and was placed under house arrest from 1989 until 2010 for her pro-democracy activities, which led to the song being banned in Burma. In 2002, the song won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, marking the first time an artist had won the award for songs from the same album in consecutive years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweetest Thing</span> 1998 single by U2

"Sweetest Thing" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It was originally released as a B-side on the "Where the Streets Have No Name" single in 1987. The song was later re-recorded and re-released as a single in October 1998 for the band's compilation album The Best of 1980–1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staring at the Sun (U2 song)</span> 1997 single by U2

"Staring at the Sun" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the fifth track on their 1997 album, Pop, and was released by Island Records as the album's second single on 14 April 1997. The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, number one in Canada and Iceland and number 26 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In the US, it topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and Adult Alternative Songs charts. It also reached the top 10 in Finland, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and Norway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mysterious Ways (song)</span> 1991 single by U2

"Mysterious Ways" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the eighth track from their 1991 album, Achtung Baby, and was released as the album's second single on 2 December 1991. The song began as an improvisation called "Sick Puppy", with the band liking only the bass part that bassist Adam Clayton composed. The band struggled to build a song from it, with vocalist Bono and producer Daniel Lanois arguing intensely during one songwriting session. The song's breakthrough came after guitarist the Edge began experimenting with the Korg A3 effects unit. "Mysterious Ways" features a danceable beat, funky guitar hook, and conga-laden percussion, as well as mystical lyrics by Bono about romance and women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pride (In the Name of Love)</span> 1984 single by U2

"Pride (In the Name of Love)" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the second track on the band's 1984 album, The Unforgettable Fire, and was released as its lead single in September 1984. The song was produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. Written about the American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., "Pride" received mixed critical reviews at the time, but it was a major commercial success for U2 and has since become one of their most popular songs, as well as been re-evaluated positively by many as one of the greatest songs of all time. It appeared on the band's compilation albums The Best of 1980–1990 and U218 Singles and was reworked and re-recorded for Songs of Surrender (2023).

<i>No Line on the Horizon</i> 2009 studio album by U2

No Line on the Horizon is the twelfth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, and Steve Lillywhite, and was released on 27 February 2009. It was the band's first record since How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004), marking the longest gap between studio albums of their career to that point. The band originally intended to release the songs as two EPs, but later combined the material into a single record. Photographer Anton Corbijn shot a companion film, Linear, which was released alongside the album and included with several special editions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Every Breaking Wave</span> 2014 single by U2

"Every Breaking Wave" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the second track from their thirteenth studio album, Songs of Innocence, and was released as its second single. It was produced by Danger Mouse and Ryan Tedder, with additional production from Declan Gaffney.

This is a timeline of the history of rock band U2:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invisible (U2 song)</span> 2014 single by U2

"Invisible" is a song by Irish rock band U2. Produced by Danger Mouse, it was released as a non-album single on 2 February 2014. The song was unveiled in a Super Bowl XLVIII television advertisement, launching a promotion that offered the song as a free digital download in the iTunes Store from 2–3 February. For each download of the track, Bank of America donated $1 to (RED), an organisation co-founded by lead vocalist Bono, to fight HIV/AIDS. Ultimately, $3.1 million was raised during the 36-hour promotion. Since 4 February, "Invisible" has been available as a paid download that continues to benefit (RED).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Out of Your Own Way</span> 2017 single by U2

"Get Out of Your Own Way" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the fourth track on their fourteenth studio album, Songs of Experience, and was released as the album's second single on 8 December 2017.

<i>Sing 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack</i> 2021 soundtrack album by various artists

Sing 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the animated film Sing 2, released on December 17, 2021, by Republic Records. The film is a sequel to the animated musical comedy film Sing. The songs were performed by the recurring cast members: Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly, Nick Kroll, who appear in the film. It also featured popular songs performed by Kiana Ledé, BTS, Sam i, Billie Eilish, Elton John, Kygo, Whitney Houston, Anitta, Mercury Rev and several others, which were incorporated in the film's soundtrack. All the songs were performed diegetically by the film's cast.

References

  1. 1 2 West, Rachel (24 November 2021). "Bono Explains Inspiration For New U2 Track 'Your Song Saved My Life', Teases Recording Session In 'The Next Few Weeks'". Entertainment Weekly Canada. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  2. Minsker, Evan (3 November 2021). "U2 Share New Song "Your Song Saved My Life"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  3. Kreps, Daniel (3 November 2021). "U2 Return with First New Track in 3 Years, 'Your Song Saved My Life'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  4. Graves, Wren (3 November 2021). "U2's 'Your Song Saved My Life' is Possibly the Worst Song of the Year" . Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  5. Power, Ed (3 November 2021). "U2: Your Song Saved My Life – The pipe and slippers phase of the megastars' career". The Irish Times. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  6. McIntyre, Hugh (21 December 2021). "Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Brian Wilson, U2 And Jay-Z Make Oscar Shortlist For Best Original Song". Forbes. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  7. "U2 Chart Information". Ultratop. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  8. "U2 – 'Your Song Saved My Life'". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  9. "U2 Chart History – Adult Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2023.